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<\/a>This Sunday evening at Toyota Center in Downtown Houston finally delivered what James Taylor (and Jackson Browne) fans had been waiting for. And waiting\u2026and waiting. Audience members could be heard comparing notes on how long they\u2019d been waiting after COVID-19 caused delays and rescheduling. I believe all would agree it was worth waiting for!\nIronically it was in the middle of the MLB American League series between the Astros, our team, and the Boston Red Sox, James Taylor\u2019s team. He mentioned that during his set which in retrospect might have been a mistake on his part given the rousing reaction (i.e., boos) the near sold-out crowd gave him when he made it clear that Boston was his team! However he then good naturedly chuckled and said \u2018I think that\u2019s all I\u2019m going to say about that\u2019.
\nLet me spent a minute talking about Jackson Browne\u2019s opening performance.
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<\/a>Browne was the indeed the \u2018opener\u2019 however in my world (and surely in many of the audience members) he is a major headliner any night of the week. I love his songwriting, his voice, his songs and the people he surrounds himself with while on stage. I wish I could study each of his band mates and share their stories right now however we don\u2019t have the time or space. Suffice it to say that there were a lot of talented men and women on stage with both him and JT!\nWhat I didn\u2019t like was that he didn\u2019t play as long as I would have hoped but then again, he was indeed billed as the opener for this show. And as a result, still on my bucket list is hearing him perform The Load Out\/Stay. He did sing I\u2019m Alive, a personal favorite as well as Fountain of Sorrow and one of his new songs titled Downhill From Everywhere (title track from the new LP)\u2026a must download!
\nThen, to the delight of all in attendance, James Taylor came out on stage to accompany Jackson on The Pretender and Running On Empty. This photographer was, however, definitely not delighted I wasn\u2019t allowed to photograph that part of the show\u2026darn!
\nIf you are a JB fan but haven\u2019t seen him lately I\u2019d suggest you go to the HMR Photo Gallery and check him out. He is sporting a beard these days and I think it\u2019s very becoming on him\u2026but others may differ as it is a significant departure to his \u2018brand look\u2019. What the hell, a NEW \u2018Brand Look\u2019 feels good to me if that is what he wants to do. And at 73 does he really need to care about \u2018the look\u2019?
\nBefore moving on to JT please allow me to plug my music photos coffee table books Raising A Hand Volume One & Two. Jackson Browne is in Volume One and the back story of how I got the photo is in Volume Two. People have told me it\u2019s an interesting story. Check it out if you\u2019d like. You can purchase both books at www.RaisingAHand.com.
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<\/a>James Taylor is someone I had never seen perform live yet have always wanted to. And now I get it. Jackson Browne shared that he might be the BIGGEST James Taylor Fan in the building! I have also heard Clint Black say on more than one occasion that he was JT\u2019s biggest fan. The video shown on the stage before his entrance also showcased all of the performers who have been inspired and influenced by him. And I know the patience of the many folks who bought their tickets two years ago for this show might argue they were his biggest fans. The performance he gave let me know as to why so many people love him and his music.\nOne adoring fan even yelled out between songs \u2018Marry me James!\u2019 He smiled, chuckled, paused and then said \u2018Uh\u2026why don\u2019t I just buy you a house?\u2019 He then stated that, though it\u2019d taken him three tries, he\u2019d finally gotten it right. Just another example of what, besides the great music, fans find so endearing.
\nTaylor is funny, very clever and has very expressive mannerisms. His performance is the perfect combination of brilliant song writing and a mellow, distinctive voice. Add to that a set design that, on the surface looked like a simple spreading tree with lights dangling from it. As the evening unfolded it swayed back and forth into many colors and backgrounds. It underlined the peaceful, easy theme for the night. (or , as Jackson Browne had pointed out during his set \u201cmy audience and James\u2019 audience are quiet people).
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<\/a>That they were\u2026and from this reviewer\u2019s point of view that felt alright to me! I never thought that Toyota Center could be a \u2018listening room\u2019 but it was somehow transformed.\nTaylor played all the songs I hoped he would including several of my favorites\u2026Copperline, Sweet Baby James, Fire and Rain. What really surprised me was seeing him pull out an electric guitar and play Steamroller\u2026something that I certainly didn\u2019t expect but thoroughly enjoyed. Like Jackson Brown, he surrounded himself with a mighty impressive group of renowned musicians and singers, many with impressive resumes that truly would take a separate review to give them all the accolades they deserved.
\nDuring the encore JB came out and joined James on the show\u2019s finale. They are obviously buddies and it showed with each being a part of the other\u2019s performance. Also, during the encore his son Henry came out and just the two of them performed before the curtains closed. (And although not there, son Ben is also a singer and very worthy of a visit should you have the opportunity & he is in Volume Two opposite Jim Croce\u2019s son AJ).
\nThank you both for a terrific evening of entertainment and \u2026\u2019Take It Easy\u2019!
\nUntil next time, support live music any way you can \u2026or one day we may not have it!<\/p>\n
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Written by Dave Clements This Sunday evening at Toyota Center in Downtown Houston finally delivered what James Taylor (and Jackson Browne) fans had been waiting for. And waiting\u2026and waiting. Audience members could be heard comparing notes on how long they\u2019d been waiting after COVID-19 caused delays and rescheduling. I believe all would agree it was… <\/p>\n